Page 2221 - Week 11 - Tuesday, 31 October 1989
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The Assembly voted -
AYES, 6 NOES, 11
Mr Humphries Mr Berry
Mr Kaine Mr Collaery
Mrs Nolan Mr Duby
Mr Prowse Ms Follett
Mr Stefaniak Mrs Grassby
Mr Stevenson Mr Jensen
Dr Kinloch
Ms Maher
Mr Moore
Mr Whalan
Mr Wood
Question so resolved in the negative.
Clause agreed to.
Clauses 31 to 35, by leave, taken together, and agreed to.
Clause 36 (Small employers not affected)
MR STEFANIAK (4.28): I move:
Page 17, line 29, omit "10", substitute "20".
Mr Speaker, this amendment refers to the question of the designated work group. All major employer groups who appeared before the committee and addressed the problem of the size of the designated work group, as it affected them, recommended a designated work group of at least 20.
I would point out to members that New South Wales has a designated work group of 20. There is a lot of commonsense in businesses in the ACT and New South Wales with commonality between them having the same designated work group. It probably behoves the Assembly to take a little bit more notice of our sister city of Queanbeyan. We seem to have forgotten it in a few things we have done. Let us not forget Queanbeyan in relation to this piece of legislation.
I would also indicate to members that in Queensland there are 30 members in a designated work group. Indeed, the New South Wales Act, which was enacted in 1984, and the Queensland Act, which was somewhat later, indicate an increasing size for the minimum requirement for a designated work group. I have spoken earlier about problems experienced in some of the other States where there is a very small designated work group and about some of the non-health and safety issues that have been raised. Industrial matters which have got nothing to do with health and safety have caused problems, partially caused by a very small designated work group. Perhaps I should quote from several bodies who appeared before our committee in relation to this. I quote from the transcript of 9 June 1989. Mr Rowe, representing CONFACT, stated:
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